Hoka Clifton 9 - Women's Review
Our Verdict
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This Product
Hoka Clifton 9 - Women's | |||||
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Awards | Best Overall Running Shoe for Women | Best Value for a Women's Road Running Shoe | Most Versatile Road Running Shoe | Best Stability-Focused Road Running Shoe | |
Price | $144.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $140 List $139.95 at Amazon | $119.95 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $139.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $117.27 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | The big underfoot stack of this shoe provides great comfort and more responsiveness than expected, though the overall fit will not appeal to all | This running shoe offers the performance technology and comfort needed to be your go-to shoe, no matter your running goals | Affordable and minimally-minded, the updated Kinvara is a great everyday shoe that is suitable for a myriad of running situations | For epic versatility in a single shoe, we recommend this lightweight superstar | The structure and comfort of this shoe make it a highly recommended option for long distance runners who want a reliable road running steed |
Rating Categories | Hoka Clifton 9 - Wo... | Asics Novablast 4 -... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Hoka Mach 6 - Women's | Brooks Adrenaline G... |
Landing Comfort (30%) | |||||
Responsiveness (20%) | |||||
Stability (15%) | |||||
Upper Comfort (15%) | |||||
Weight (15%) | |||||
Traction (5%) | |||||
Specs | Hoka Clifton 9 - Wo... | Asics Novablast 4 -... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Hoka Mach 6 - Women's | Brooks Adrenaline G... |
Measured Weight | 7.16 oz | 7.36 oz | 5.44 oz | 6.27 oz | 8.21 oz |
Measured Heel Stack Height | 34 mm | 38 mm | 27 mm | 33 mm | 33 mm |
Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 6 mm | 8 mm | 3 mm | 7 mm | 10 mm |
Plate Type | None | None | None | None | None |
Rocker Angle | 18.5 deg | 22.0 deg | 25.0 deg | 24.5 deg | 26.5 deg |
Rocker Apex Location | 68.0% | 69.5% | 64.7% | 65.4% | 71.4% |
Style | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer |
Upper | Engineered mesh | Engineered knit mesh | Mesh | Creel jaqquard | Engineered air mesh |
Midsole | EVA foam | FF Blast Plus Eco | PWRRUN | Supercritical EVA | DNA Loft v2 |
Outsole | Durabrasion rubber | AHAR outsole | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber |
Heel Tab Type | Extended heel pull | Finger loop | None | Extended heel pull | None |
Sizes Available | 5 - 12 US, regular & wide | 5 - 12 US, regular | 5 - 12 US, regular |
5 - 11 US, regular & wide | 5 - 13 US, narrow, medium, wide & extra wide |
Our Analysis and Test Results
With a 34 mm stack underfoot in the heel and a 28 mm stack beneath the forefoot, the updated Hoka Clifton is known for its underfoot comfort. If your running takes you on lengthy paved routes most days of the week, the plush protective cushion of this shoe is where it's at.
Performance Comparison
Landing Comfort
This is the metric where the Clifton 9 shines brightest. It is a great daily running shoe all around, but it earns the highest marks for its bouncy landing comfort. Slipping your feet into the higher-than-ever Clifton feels a bit disorienting at first, as this shoe is noticeably higher than your standard road shoe. But after a few quick spins around the block, our testers grew accustomed to the height, which set the stage for long, pavement-laden testing runs.
The EVA foam midsole is thick and bouncy, while the Durabrasion rubber outsole provides an additional, grippy layer between your feet and the road. The insole's build creates a cradle-like sensation for your feet, preventing them from sliding around within the shoe's body. The forefoot of the Clifton is somewhat flexible, which allows your feet and toes to work with your gait.
Responsiveness
As is often the case in the world of running shoes, comfort and responsiveness don't always coexist perfectly together. While there is nothing wrong with the responsiveness of the Clifton 9, it isn't a shoe we recommend for speed demons looking to push their boundaries. It is, however, an incredible option if comfort is king and smooth strides reign supreme. The semi-flexible outsole encourages you to rely on your muscles and strength more than a shoe with a rigid plate in its outsole. Racers might prefer a more rigid outsole, but there is plenty of pep within the outsole of the Clifton so that you can achieve your next PR. The underfoot foam rides bouncy and has an early-stage meta rocker, which is Hoka-specific tech that allows one footfall to roll right into the next.
Stability
The overbuilt aesthetic of the Clifton renders it incredibly stable for a neutral running shoe. The contoured heel cup and thick heel cushion lock your heel in place, creating stability from the back forward. The midfoot doesn't have extra structures for lateral support, but the engineered mesh upper is strong. The outsole extends upward ever so slightly, which helps feet stay comfortably locked into place. The 6 mm drop (our measurement — Hoka claims 5 mm) forces the heel to sit on a similar plane to the toes, unlike more traditional road shoes with a 8-10 mm drop. This further encourages comfortable stability.
Upper Comfort
The upper mesh of the Clifton 9 is comfortable, but not necessarily more so than many other shoes. The mesh is breathable, which helps keep feet cool on warm days. The plush tongue is partially adhered, so besides providing comfort, it stays where you want it once the laces are locked down. The toe box is rather spacious but not dramatically so. A wide-width option of the Clifton is available, which allows for a bit more flexibility when choosing a size that serves your feet. Our testers found this shoe comfortable all around, but its highly shaped heel cup might not appeal to all runners. The heel tab extends higher than most, and the thickness on the lateral edges of the cup might not suit all anatomies. The balance between softness and strength around the heel collar is good, so we never had any issues with discomfort, but it is easy to see how different ankle bones might find discomfort with this shape. As per usual, we recommend trying this shoe on before shelling out the cash because of these quirks.
Weight
With each women's size 6.5 shoe weighing 7.16 ounces, the Clifton 9 is pretty lightweight considering the cushioning it offers. It is not super often that ultra-comfy shoes weigh in on the lower end of the spectrum, but the Clifton is an outlier. Most of the weight lives in the outsole of the shoe, which can feel a bit clunky at first.
Traction
The outsole of the Clifton is made of durabrasion rubber and exposed foam. The width of the outsole combined with these materials makes for good enough traction on moderate dirt paths and loose gravel. The outsole did not thrive, however, on saturated roads. We were successful while running across misty and dewy terrain, but the traction started to give as soon as the wetness became a bit more serious.
Should You Buy the Hoka Clifton 9?
For long-distance road enthusiasts or people who spend many hours on their feet, we recommend the Clifton 9. It is a bouncy shoe constructed with underfoot comfort in mind, making it a standout choice for pavement pounding. The responsiveness via the meta rocker lends itself well enough to leg turnover, making some speed work and PRs possible in this comfy road kick. If you are in the market for a stable shoe with bouncy underfoot cushion, the Clifton is a worthy contender. It's also one of our favorite walking shoes.
What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?
The Clifton 9 is beloved for its underfoot cushion. If the cushion is what is speaking to you, the Asics Gel-Kayano 31 is our top recommendation to take for a spin. The Hoka Mach 6 is a slightly more high-tech running shoe but comes equipped with a base of lightweight foam for long-run comfort. The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23 is another reliable choice with great landing comfort, a traditional fit, and extra lateral support.